The Native Speaker Fallacy and Dutch EFL Students - A study into student preference for native or non-native English speaking teachers

Abstract

The aim of this study is to see if Dutch English as Foreign Language learners, at Radboud University Nijmegen, have a preference for either Native English Speaking Teachers, or Non Native English Speaking Teachers? Previous studies found students often have an overall preference for NESTs, although this preference is less one-sided when looking at specific subject areas. Students often indicate different preferences depending on the subject area. A questionnaire was used to measure student preference in the Netherlands, which was handed out to two student groups, the English majors at Radboud University Nijmegen, and English students at the Radboud In’to Languages centre. The results showed Dutch students express an overall preference for the NEST, although their preference was more complex for specific subject areas. Students showed the clearest preference for the NEST for pronunciation instruction. Surprisingly the students did not show a preference for overall oral proficiency. For grammatical subjects they either have no preference, or prefer a NNEST.